Reinforcing means for building-blocks.



1. JAMES.

REINFORCING MEANS FOR BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31. 1914.

1 ,1 91 ,428. Patented July 18, 1916.

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JOSEPH JAMES,-OF vA1voonvnn, nnrrrsn COLUMBIA, cAnADA.

REINFORGING MEANS FOR BUILDING-BLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1916.

Application filed January 31, 1914. Serial No. 815,712.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH JAMES, a su ject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reinforcing Means for Building-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a partition block of that class wherein the plaster or other similar material is formed into a block of considerable size and of the thickness required in a partition, which blocks are built up to form the partition walls of fire-proof buildings. 1

My object has been to reinforce the plaster or other material of which the block is made by a framework of light wood laths so constructed as to offer a measure of rigidity and strength to the block. I

Objection is taken by many to the use of these plaster partition blocks owing to their liability to be broken in transit or while being placed in position and it is to overcome this objection that the reinforcing framework, which is the particular subject the inclosing plaster beingindicated by the dot and dash lines, and Flg. 2 is a central cross section of a block, constructed in accordance with the invention.

The framework comprises two end vertical members 2 of thin wood similar to what is used for lathing and one or more vertical members 3 intermediate of the two ends.

Across these vertical members 2 and 3 are secured horizontal members 4 of similar material, which, in securing the ends, are bent, not cut, to an arched form, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. These members 4 are secured. across the vertical members at theirwupper and lower ends and two across the middle, while a straight lath 5 may extend across between the two middle ones. The horizontal and vertical members of this framework are secured at their junction by nails which are clenched or riveted so as to securely hold the members together. So constructed, owing to the strain of fieXure of the horizontal members 4, the frame is a particularly strong and rigid one and when introduced in the mold in which the plaster of the block is formed, the material 6 of the block is strongly reinforced and will not readily fracture either during transit or when making any attachment to it by nailing when the hammering is liable to break the material when not so supported. The bent members maybe secured to opposite sides of the vertical members and the mate rial may be any of the fibrous compositions used as a substitute for plaster.

Having now particularly described my invention, I hereby declare that what I claim as new and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is:

A reinforcing frame for building blocks which comprises a plurality of vertical members disposed parallel to one another in the same plane, a central horizontally disposed straight member secured to each of said vertical members and a plurality of bowed horizontal members at each side of said central member and secured to the respective vertical members, said central horizontal member and said bowed members lying in the same plane and parallel to the plane containing said vertical members and means for securing said members together to form an integral structuresubstantially copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

